The Metaverse is a sort of public score card. If you play a metaverse game, you are playing under certain set conditions (same ruleset, i.e. no mods) so your score can be compared across with any other metaverse player. You can go in and view the playing profile essentially of any player who submits their games. Submitted games have scores associated with them, and metaverse players are ranked according to their total score.

Since there is no direct multiplayer, you can compete with other players indirectly through the metaverse. You can very quickly tell who the best players in the GalCiv world are, and also tell how you stack up.

It's really there for bragging rights

In order to play through the metaverse, you have to start a game through the "Metaverse" button. This will use a copy of the games data that is free from mods, ect, so everyone plays on even footing.

Question generated by the "Planetary Defense" thread - Does the term "no mods" include no different ships than are in the basic game?  Or can you use personally (or by someone else) designed ships?

I like using the Metaverse with GC 1 to keep track of my scores. I thought it was mentioned that GC 2 will have an internal score table with charting abilities, e.g., level of difficulty, turns for victory, etc. Is this true, or will the Metaverse still be the only way to keep track of scores?

Second, if we can modify the xml files as per CariElf's thread which includes changing the home world PQ, will the "Metaverse" button still give a true "non-modded" game? Seems the game will read the file as normal giving it is the original name in the original directory. I am curious about what are metaverse acceptable mods.

You can design ships, but you cannot add new components/hulls to the game as I did with the "Orbital Platform" mod I demonstrated

Thanks for the clarification

Could somebody explain to me the criteria for the different achievements that are listed as #1-9 in the metaverse legend? And also how come I'm listed as human when I've played 11 games without using them? Thanks.

How are saved games handled when playing via the Metaverse?

Or is it just assumed that everyone will save/reload their games before things go wrong and thus we are all on an even playing field by doing that.

Well you can submit losses. There is even a medal for it. Nothing is to be assumed.